Left: Hermes’ new parcel sorting facility in Bristol
Delivery provider Hermes UK has moved its parcel processing operation in Portbury, Somerset, to a new-build facility in Avonmouth near Bristol.
Hermes made the decision to leave Portbury in light of projected parcel volumes for 2016, particularly during the peak season. The new Avonmouth facility measures 43,000ft2, more than double the size of the previous depot, and allows for loading on three different elevations. As a result, it is anticipated that Hermes’ 50-strong team of employees will be able to process around 9.5 million parcels per year.
The delivery provider also bolstered its infrastructure along the south coast by relocating its depot in Southampton. Hermes had previously occupied a 25,000ft2 facility in Nursling, but transferred operations to a new depot in Hedge End, approximately nine miles away. It will house a team of 60 employees, and annual volumes are expected to surpass 10.8 million.
The relocation of both facilities follows the news that Hermes has begun work on a state-of-the-art automated parcel distribution hub located in Rugby, Warwickshire. The 270,000ft2 Super Hub is the result of a £31m (US$45m) investment and will have the capacity to process up to 1.1 million parcels each day.
Martijn de Lange, chief operating officer at Hermes, said, “With online shopping volumes continuing to rise, carriers have a responsibility to their retail clients to continuously invest in their networks. By moving to new premises in Avonmouth and Southampton we have significantly strengthened our infrastructure, which will enable us to further improve the services and solutions we provide to our customers, not just in the south and southwest of England, but across the whole of the UK.”
May 24, 2016